The song "It Should Have Been Me" by Gladys Knight & The Pips revolves around the theme of lost love and heartbreak. The narrator sees her former love walking down the aisle with someone else, and it deeply pains her. She expresses her feelings of betrayal and disappointment, believing that she should have been the one getting married to him instead. The lyrics depict the moment when the preacher joins their hands and the people in attendance stand up. Overwhelmed by her emotions, the narrator shouts out her objection, insisting that she should have been the bride. She recalls the promise her ex-lover made to never part ways, only to break her heart and end up marrying someone else. She expresses her frustration and recounts their past love, emphasizing her loyalty and faithfulness towards him. The narrator struggles to understand how he could choose someone else over her, and she feels hurt and deceived. The song portrays the narrator's pain and longing for what could have been. It highlights the emotions of regret, love lost, and the feeling of being replaced. Ultimately, the lyrics convey the longing for a different outcome where the narrator is the one walking down the aisle with her former love.
